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AACE International offers a number of opportunities for women to grow professionally and take on leadership positions. In January 2005, the Women in Project Controls (WPC) Task Force was created by AACE International to encourage and mentor the growing number of women entering the Project Controls and Program/Project Management profession. In January 2009, the AACE Board of Directors successfully voted to move the Women in Project Controls Task Force to “Committee” status.

The 2009-2010 program year was filled with new opportunities and challenges for the committee. Some of the highlights of the year are:
  • We continued the Women in Project Controls profile articles in Cost Engineering Journal. The purpose of these articles is to not only highlight the experience of professional women and their accomplishments, but also to encourage other women in the industry to see the opportunities available to them through an association with AACE. The articles have highlighted the advantages and opportunities available through networking, mentoring, learning, and sharing with other professional women.
  • Both the Southern California Section and Nevada Section held joint meetings with the NAWIC local sections in their respective areas. There continues to be conversation and a collaboration spirit between AACE and NAWIC, and the WPC Committee will continue to foster that relationship.
  • The “AACE International Fellow Award” – was presented to Valerie Venters, CCC. Fellow is a grade of membership extended to those who have advanced cost engineering through service within the organization and to organizations outside of AACE.
  • The “Award of Merit” – was presented to Charla Miller for rendered outstanding service to the cost engineering profession. This is the highest award presented by the Association to recognize individual contribution to cost engineering.
  • Niyi Ladipo, CCE was awarded the “Outstanding Woman in Project Controls.” This award was established through the Women in Project Controls Committee, via a donation by Marlene Hyde, to honor women who have overcome obstacles pursuing a career in project controls and who have made a significant contribution to the profession.
  • Fereshteh Khoramshahi received the “Top Scholarship Award” (Canadian Winner)
  • The WPC Committee sponsored seven technical programs during the Annual Meeting in Atlanta:
    • “Best Practices by Owners for Controlling Cost and Schedules on Large Projects”
    • “Managing Los Angeles $40 Billion Transportation Program with P6”
    • “Point-Counterpoint on Integrated Project Delivery (Panel Discussion)”
    • “Change is the Only Constant”
    • “Controls and Audit Devices for Claims Management”
    • “Lessons Learned -- Schedule Development Using Primavera P6”
    • “Skills & Knowledge: Earned Value”
  • At the Annual Meeting in Atlanta, the Mentoring Program Reception was held on Monday evening as a joint effort between the Diversity Task Force, Women in Project Controls Committee and the Young Professionals Committee. This reception is a casual event where women can network with the committee and task force members and other conference attendees.
  • A web forum on the AACE website and LinkedIn online networking group-- provides communication tools and social networking
  • A three-month pilot mentoring program was completed from March through May 2010 with the Diversity Task Force and Young Professionals Committee.
  • The Women in Project Controls Committee is coordinating a Leadership Retreat in Houston on October 2, 2010 with the Diversity Task Force and Young Professionals Committee.
These highlights will be key to spreading information and opportunities to professional women in AACE. The Women in Project Controls Committee wants to raise the awareness of AACE to professional women through the profile articles, visibility of women in leadership roles at the section and international level of the organization, and showing the many opportunities that are available for women in AACE.

The Women in Project Controls Committee is the arm of AACE that reaches out to the professional women across the industries and offers an organization with technical expertise, a tremendous certification program, and unlimited networking and continuing education opportunities.
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